Page 70 - war-and-peace

ously.
Meanwhile the younger generation: Boris, the officer,
Anna Mikhaylovna’s son; Nicholas, the undergraduate, the
count’s eldest son; Sonya, the count’s fifteen-year-old niece,
and little Petya, his youngest boy, had all settled down in
the drawing room and were obviously trying to restrain
within the bounds of decorum the excitement and mirth
that shone in all their faces. Evidently in the back rooms,
from which they had dashed out so impetuously, the con-
versation had been more amusing than the drawing-room
talk of society scandals, the weather, and Countess Aprak-
sina. Now and then they glanced at one another, hardly able
to suppress their laughter.
The two young men, the student and the officer, friends
from childhood, were of the same age and both handsome
fellows, though not alike. Boris was tall and fair, and his
calm and handsome face had regular, delicate features.
Nicholas was short with curly hair and an open expres-
sion. Dark hairs were already showing on his upper lip,
and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm.
Nicholas blushed when he entered the drawing room. He
evidently tried to find something to say, but failed. Boris
on the contrary at once found his footing, and related qui-
etly and humorously how he had know that doll Mimi when
she was still quite a young lady, before her nose was broken;
how she had aged during the five years he had known her,
and how her head had cracked right across the skull. Hav-
ing said this he glanced at Natasha. She turned away from
him and glanced at her younger brother, who was screwing

70 War and Peace